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Shabbona man running for Bivins state Senate seat

DIXON – A Democrat from Shabbona is making a run for the state’s 45th District Senate seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Tim Bivins.

In his first bid for public office, David Simpson decided to throw his hat into the ring in February and has been traveling throughout the district, which includes all or portions of Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.

Simpson grew up in Cortland and has lived in the Shabbona and Lee area for the past 2 decades. The 48-year-old lumber yard manager has worked in real estate, woodworking and management in DeKalb.

The state budget impasse that dragged on for 2 years prompted his decision to run, and his focus is on advocating for more education funding for rural schools and workers’ rights.

He said he would like to see the state enact a graduated income tax, and also raise the minimum wage and prevailing wage.

“Now is the time to move forward, so it’s time for getting off the sidelines and going for it,” he said.

He wants to use his networking experience and act as a buffer in helping bridge both sides of the aisle in Springfield.

“With the divide, I think it’s kind of a tragedy,” he said. “I would like to mend bridges and fill in the gaps, and if I can get enough people to do that, I think it all helps.”

Simpson and his wife, Jill, have been married for 20 years and have two children; Elise, an elementary teacher in Milwaukee, and Jonathan, who serves in the U.S. Air Force.

He attended Kishwaukee College for 1 1/2 years and went into the workforce.

“I had a focus of going out into the working world, because that’s what my parents drove into me,” he said.

Bivins, a former Lee County sheriff, announced in June that he would not seek a fourth term. He was appointed to the post in March 2008, and his third term expires next year.